Top 10 Questions to Ask Before You Hire A Professional Dog Trainer

October 10, 2023

I know you want the absolute best for your dog. From finding a great vet to the perfect Dog Trainer, to investing in pet products from companies whose business practices resonate with you, where you spend your money matters. You want the best for your budget and also to do business with someone whose values align with your own.

So if you’ve recently found someone you think would be the perfect dog trainer, here’s a list of questions to ask before hiring them.

What To Ask When You Find a Dog Trainer You Like

Is there any guarantee as part of the work?
Ask them to tell you about a challenging family they worked with and how they accomplished their training goals?
What techniques do they think work best?
What is their philosophy and approach to training?
What are the biggest mistakes they see pet parents make?
How will they help you with your main concern (aggression, jumping, leash-pulling)?
What’s their policy about between-lesson help - do they accept emails or other updates?

In my experience, pet professionals LOVE talking about their job and LOVE making sure they are a good fit for the animal and family. My advice: If something feels off, it's probably a sign not to hire them. If they refuse to be interviewed, keep looking. If your pet doesn't seem to like them, keep looking. You must go with your gut instinct.

Questions to Ask Before Buying from a Pet Company

Along with pet professionals, you’ll make a lot of buying decisions for your pet. From dog beds, food, toys, bowls, collars, clothing, at home grooming kits etc. You will buy A LOT of stuff for your dog.

Doing research and supporting businesses who align with your values can instill a sense of pride about how and who you support. Before buying a pet product, you might want to:

Read reviews. If a lot of people are complaining about the product being made poorly or it’s falling apart after light use, the company may not value quality, sustainability etc.
Read the company missions, values or history pages. Are they clear about their sourcing practices, manufacturing processes, approvals by any governing agencies etc.

Look at their social media and see the type of content they post and how they respond to comments. Do they celebrate, honor or mention holidays or events that you find important. Do they have a political stance you agree with (if that's important to you) Do they engage with their followers and seem helpful and excited to talk to you.